Now and then, it's good to have one of those ripped-from-the-headlines episodes, somewhere other than on Law & Order: SVU.

So a recent espionage trend showed up on NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 12, giving it a more timely feel.

There's been the mystery, often speculated on but not solved, about what made American embassy staffers in Cuba and China ill, whether it was some kind of sonic attack or something else.

I can accept those nations' intelligence apparatuses developing some secret weapon to drive out those they suspect of being spies.

But were we supposed to buy a disgruntled, xenophobic engineer and a couple of loan shark's thugs were capable of designing and employing such a device, so precisely that it affects only one individual?

Related: NCIS: Los Angeles Season 10 Episode 11 Review: Joyride

That seemed unpretty unlikely. 

What, they couldn't disable her by having their insider dupe slip something into her coffee, that would keep her out of business for a couple of days?

Still, this being TV, we suspend our disbelief and hope we don't trip over the plot holes.

So let's leave the case of the week behind for a time and speak of the OSP's pairings instead.

Sam and Callen were copacetic.

Sam ragged on Callen for being an unimaginative workaholic and Callen basically had no defense.

So they focused their energies on, duh, investigating.

Eric and Nell were tiffing with each other, and it was affecting their performance.

You know things were bad when Deeks, of all people, told them nicely to get their shit together.

All of that occurred over the tuna sandwiches Eric had prepared for their lunches and that Nell had forgotten.

That was on Nell. After all the time she had spent working with Eric, and the short time living with him, she had to realize he is touchy, insecure and anal.

That shouldn't be news to her. 

Related: Watch NCIS: Los Angeles Online: Season 10 Episode 11

She's got to focus on the qualities she loves about him. I mean, look at Kensi and Deeks.

She's learned to roll with his Deekiness, and he's gotten a skoosh less hyper through the years as a result.

There was actually some fun Kensi-Deeks wedding planning this episode. Make that honeymoon planning.

He wanted adventure; she wanted culture. No surprise there.

Sam had some fun ideas, Callen didn't get the concept of vacation, and they knew better than ask Eric, who stumbled into the discussion.

Deeks' idea of putting all the continents in a hat was inspired.

Fortunately, Kensi didn't pull Antarctica.

South America does offer tourists more than drug cartels and rampant hyperinflation.

And the pair came up with another socially conscious choice, volunteering in a rural area of Peru. 

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Also, I'm enjoying the new setting this season -- Deeks' bar.

I know it's Kensi's as well, but it's genuinely a Deeks creation.

It gives the team a homey place to unwind after a tough case, and it does beat them drinking Hetty's Scotch after hours at the office, although I'm sure the liquor is lower quality.

I'm sure naming the bar is going to be a season-long running gag. However, I liked Kensi's suggestion of The Bar With No Name.

It had a real spaghetti-Western quality to it.

And if the bar is going to become a recurring character, let's make Roberta one as well.

I love how she makes Deeks squirm, as the only person who seems to put less thought into what she says than Deeks does.

Let's have Monty there as well for those episode cappers.

Finally, this mission worked just fine without a substitute leader.

The six of them have been working together so long that they don't always need adult supervision.

Plus, since Hetty isn't available, there's no clear choice among the others to be in charge.

Hopefully, this cobbled-together approach ends soon.

Now, back to the case. It was a timely concept, but oh so convoluted a crime.

Related: Get CBS All Access via Amazon Channels for Hit Shows, Exclusive Originals & Live TV!

Let's look at it in broad strokes: Impair the logistics commander, so you can insert her compromised underling, who will provide you with the timetable and routes for cruise-missile deliveries.

Knock out the truck crew with the microwave weapon, then use the missile to make a political statement.

Couldn't the money they poured in this misadventure have gotten them the weaponry they needed, not as flashy as a cruise missile but still functional, from any disreputable arms dealer?

Then again, other than the engineer, they didn't seem like the sharpest pencils in the box.

To catch up on the season at the halfway mark, watch NCIS: Los Angeles online.

What did you think of the case of the week?

How about Kensi and Deek's honeymoon choice?

How long will it take Eric and Nell to adjust to being together 24/7?

Comment below.

Dale McGarrigle is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.